An question thats always asked at the end of a Safari: Are what should I tip the staff?

Tipping in the hunting industry is customary, but it can be an uncomfortable topic to discuss. It may also be confusing because there are a variety of staff that work hard to make your safari a positive experience. You should not feel pressured to leave a specific amount; a tip is a personal thing and should reflect the level and quality of service that you have received during your safari. 

 Tipping is expected because Professional Hunters(PH), trackers and camp staff derive much of their income from the tips they receive. This creates the incentive for them to perform at their highest level for each and every client. Hunting is a service industry. Unlike other industries, it is customary to tip your PH, even if he is the owner. On YOUR safari, he is working hard for you.

 Most people give their tip at the end of the hunt directly to the staff who receives it. A tip should be given in cash - it can be in US$ or Rand. It is always very generous for hunters to bring "extras" (such as clothes, knives, sunglasses, candy), however these items should not be considered a tip. These small gestures, given before or shared throughout the hunt are very well received and just a nice thing to do. 

Here are some suggested amounts, based on:

- Satisfaction with hunting safari - Success of hunting safari - Country where hunt takes place - Price of hunt and number of animals taken - Number of days of hunt - Type of hunting safari (plains game, dangerous game or combination of both) - Number of hunters & observers. 

Professional Hunter = $100 - $300 per day (or you may want to consider 10 - 15% of your total safari bill as a reasonable tip)

Main Tracker, skinner & Driver = $20 - $50 per day 

Skinners = $20 - $40 per day

Maid (Cleaning and laundry ladies) = $20 -$40 per day

Cook = $100 - $300 for safari

In rare instances, there may be other camp staff that has gone above and beyond to make your stay enjoyable. You can always ask your PH for guidance, but the decision of how much to tip is yours. And remember, at any time during the hunt, if you are unhappy or dissatisfied about something, talk to your PH or Outfitter. Don’t wait until your trip is over to tell them something was wrong.

Remember -

 That this is a guideline and any suggestion is merely a point of reference and not what you should tip, ultimately the decision is yours. You get out of the trip what you put into it. It's not always about money, just being nice goes a long way too.